4G LTE: Here and Abroad

Tracking the evolution of wireless technology.

In 1973, the first publicized phone call from a mobile phone was made by Motorola engineer Martin Cooper. Then in 1987, millions saw fantasy become reality as actor Michael Douglas in the movie Wall Street playing a financial titan talking over his mobile phone from the beach.

The first smartphone, Simon, was introduced to the world in 1992. As the first wireless device to imagine functions beyond making phone calls, Simon’s innovation was ahead of its time. While cellular data networks were not yet ready to handle Simon’s data capabilities, it laid the groundwork for a new product category that would require a more advanced data network to support its capabilities.

Over the next two decades, a series of mobile network technology standards were brought to market. EDGE brought users beyond the basic phone and was followed by 3G networks CDMA and HSPA. As these networks were introduced, smartphones grew in popularity and created demand for expanded functionality that would allow for a truly mobile lifestyle.

LTE technology introduced commercially in December 2009 by TeliaSonera in Norway and Sweden came to the U.S. in 2010. That year, Verizon Wireless answered the needs of its customers and revolutionized lives across the United States.

Today, 4G LTE enables advanced technologies introduced over the last three years in the fields of transportation, healthcare, small business, enterprise and education. Solutions like Intuit GoPayment enable consumers and businesses to experience the power of 4G LTE. Through GoPayment, small businesses, such as street vendors, farmers markets and food trucks, can attach a small card reader to a smartphone or tablet, making payment transactions quick and easy for the vendor and customer.

With the last 40 years of mobile technology in the rearview mirror and the large scale deployment of VoLTE and LTE-Advanced on the horizon, one can only imagine what the next 40 years will hold.